US Issues Health Warning for Pakistan Against Drug-Resistant Typhoid Fever Outbreak

US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention urged all travellers to Pakistan or anywhere else in South Asia to take extra care with food and water and get a typhoid vaccination over typhoid superbug outbreak.

The United States warned Parkistan against an ongoing outbreak of "extensively drug-resistant" typhoid fever that does not respond to most antibiotics.

It said the level-2 alert had been triggered by the observation that several travellers to Pakistan returned to their home countries with the disease.

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Typhoid is a bacterial infection affecting the gastrointestinal tract including several the liver, spleen and muscles. Following a proper diet is an important part of the healing process.

‘US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention urged all travellers to "Pakistan or anywhere else in South Asia" to take extra care with food and water and get a typhoid vaccination over typhoid superbug outbreak.’

"All travellers to Pakistan are at risk of getting XDR typhoid fever. Those who are visiting friends or relatives are at higher risk than are tourists and business travellers," the CDC warned.

The outbreak of XDR typhoid fever began in Hyderabad, Sindh province, in November 2016.

This strain of Salmonella Typhi does not respond to most antibiotics used to treat typhoid fever.

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Typhoid and Paratyphoid Enteric Fevers are caused by bacteria called Salmonella typhi. Causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of Typhoid and Paratyphoid Enteric Fevers are discussed.

The outbreak has spread to the city of Karachi and to multiple districts. Several deaths have also been reported, Dawn reported.

Public health authorities in Pakistan are identifying possible typhoid fever cases, starting typhoid vaccination campaigns in the most affected districts and spreading educational messages about proper hand-washing and safe food and water practices.

Quiz on Typhoid Fever
Typhoid is an infectious disease that follows intake of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Salmonella typhi. Test your knowledge on this disease by taking this quiz.

Source-IANS

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